spiritdogs
Posted : 1/17/2007 7:10:29 PM
Oftentimes, dogs are more fearful of men than they are of women or children. Men are bigger and louder. [

] If you think she is aggressing out of fear, try getting a copy of "Scaredy Dog" by Ali Brown. Even if she is not fearful, some of the techniques (for focusing your dog's attention on you) are valuable anyway. My advice would be to get her to a "Growlies" or "Feisty Fido" type class, or have a trainer evaluate her to see if she could fit into a regular basic class. Avoid aggressing against her yourself (no choke chains, leash pops, etc.) and find a positive trainer who can help you train, not punish the dog. With reactivity and aggression, punishment or a tense handler often makes matters worse. Don't scold her, instead just go the other way until she calms, then ask her to "sit" and reward her for keeping her attention on you, with multiple treats if necessary.